Braley on Grassley: A 'farmer' with no law degree

Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley, a Democrat running for Senate, was caught on videotape disparaging fellow Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley as “a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school” — comments that later drew an apology from the candidate.

The video, posted online Tuesday afternoon by GOP opposition research firm America Rising, shows Braley speaking to what the group described as a group of lawyers at a fundraiser in Texas.

Story Continued Below

“If you help me win this race, you may have someone with your background, your experience, your voice — someone who’s been literally fighting tort reform for 30 years in a visible and public way on the Senate Judiciary” Committee, said Braley, a trial lawyer by training who is running to replace Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin. “Or you might have a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school, never practiced law, serving as the next chair of the Senate Judiciary. Because if Democrats lose the majority, Chuck Grassley will be the next chair of the Senate Judiciary.”

Braley is the sole Democratic candidate in a race that could, as he alludes to in the video, help determine which party controls the Senate after November. He faces whoever emerges from a crowded Republican primary field that includes state Sen. Joni Ernst, businessman Mark Jacobs and former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker.

Ernst demanded Braley apologize to Grassley and “and every other farmer in Iowa.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Braley issued a statement of apology for his comments, noting that he respects the GOP’s Grassley and is descended from a family with a farming background.

“I apologize to Sen. Grassley and anyone I may have offended,” Braley said. “My parents both grew up on Iowa farms during the Great Depression. It deeply influenced who they are and who I am, and gave me a profound appreciation for what farmers do for the world.”

The Democrat also insisted that he’s the better candidate for Iowa’s farmers.

“There is a clear choice in this race between Mark Jacobs and my other opponents who support policies that are bad for Iowa farmers, and the work I’ve done hand in hand with Iowa farmers to grow Iowa’s farm economy and create good paying Iowa farm jobs,” Braley said in the statement.